Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or vascular permeability factor (VPF) is a multifunctional cytokine with a potent angiogenic and vascular permeabilizing properties. It exerts its biological functions by interaction with specific tyrosine kinase receptors (flt-1,flt-4 and KDR/flk-1). The aim of the current study was to evaluate the presence of VEGF in children suffering of liver cirrhosis and its relation to the severity of cirrhosis with or without ascites. The present study included thirty children suffering of liver cirrhosis of varying etiologies diagnosed clinically, by laboratory investigations of liver functions, abdominal ultrasonography and confirmed by liver biopsy. Fifteen healthy children of matched age and sex were also included serving as a control group. Our study demonstrated highly significant increase of mean serum VEGF level in children suffering of liver cirrhosis compared to the healthy control group (P= 0.001). It also demonstrated that this increase was more in cirrhotic children with ascites than those without ascites. This increase was of high statistical significance (P= 0.001). Correlation with the Child scoring system was of statistically significant value (P< 0.05). Comparing the ascitic group suffering of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) with that without SBP was of no statistical significance (P> 0.05). Probably cirrhosis increases VEGF which in turn leads to its progression. VEGF might also play an important role in the pathogenesis of ascites.